Cybersecurity in Canada
Cybersecurity involves practices and measures to protect networks, systems, and software from digital attacks. In Canada, cybercrime affects individual users and businesses and is a growing threat due to the growth of the digital marketplace.
Why Cybercrime Is a Problem
In 2017 alone, 1/5 of all businesses in Canada reported cybercrime incidents that had a negative impact on their operations. More than 72 million identity theft incidents were reported during the same year. Losses to business go beyond financial loss and include expenses incurred for fraud monitoring and training, reputational damage, and costs to recover information and assets. Cybercrime also results in loss of confidence, threats to the safety of consumer privacy, and even breach of national security.
Cybercrime is also a real problem because it has many faces. There are many types of crime such as attacks on computer networks and servers, denial of service, cyber terrorism, bullying and stalking, identity theft, recruiting terrorists online, spreading violent messages, and interception of communications. Other types of crime include fraud involving electronic funds transfers, investment fraud, online vandalism, tax evasion and money laundering, and piracy. More resources about credit find here and here.
Cybersecurity Measures in Canada
Some 58 percent of businesses in Canada have policies to identify risks, and the majority of them or 85 percent have taken steps to monitor their business and network systems. Employee activities are monitored by only 38 percent of businesses, and just 13 percent have implemented policies and measures to report and deal with incidents. On the other hand, the majority of Canadian businesses have staff tasked with cybersecurity, including 83 percent of medium-sized companies and 91 percent of large companies. In total, 67 percent of companies, including small, medium-sized, and large, have 1 to 5 employees tasked with monitoring their business and network systems. Some 95 percent of businesses in Canada have some type of security measures such as firewalls and other network security measures, email security, and anti-malware software. At the same time, 32 percent of businesses do not use network security measures and 24 percent do not have firewalls.
Government Policies and Programs
The Canadian government has adopted a National Cybersecurity Strategy in response to security threats. The goal is to protect Canadian government agencies, businesses, and individual users from fraud and other forms of crime by adequately responding to evolving security threats. Coordination between international, territorial, provincial, and federal partners and law enforcement agencies is essential to this end.
One of the main goals is to protect communication networks, financial establishments, and electricity grids that are often targeted as forms of digital infrastructure. Cyber innovation is also a pillar on which the strategy is based and includes measures to improve digital literacy as a way to combat cybercrime. One initiative is the Digital Literacy Exchange Program that targets people living in rural and northern areas, indigenous communities, low-income people, newcomers, and seniors. The goal is to provide training to help Canadians develop basic computer skills so that they can access online resources safely. Close to $30 million is allotted to non-government organizations that provide training in community centres, senior homes, refugee housing complexes, libraries, and other facilities.
Government Agencies and Departments
Different agencies and institutions in Canada are tasked with dealing with cyber incidents and other security issues. These include the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Communications Security Establishment Canada, and the Department of National Defense. Communications Security Establishment Canada is tasked with cyber foreign intelligence and offers advice and assistance to government departments and agencies to respond to cybercrime. Public Safety Canada is a department responsible for protecting Canadians from safety threats such as terrorism, crime, and natural disasters. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security issues alerts on imminent and potential security threats and works with businesses and institutions across critical infrastructure sectors such as transportation, manufacturing, energy and utilities, food, and safety. Other sectors include information and communication technology, water, finance, government, and health. The Learning Hub offers advice and guidance on education and training offered by government agencies, academic institutions, and industry players. Featured courses focus on information technology risk security management, online exposure and threat to privacy, and possible threats.
